NewsBrief:GermanyVotestoLegalizeSame-SexMarriage!

German MPs voted by a clear majority to legalize same-sex marriage on Friday, June 30, the last day of Pride Month.

After years of campaigning, things moved rather swiftly with a vote being announced, carried out, and successfully passed in just a matter of days. No matter the rush, he vote passed by a clear majority. 393 members of parliament voted in favor of the bill, with only 296 voting against and 4 abstentions.

Previously, same-sex couples could not get married, but instead were allowed to enter into civil unions. Same-sex couples will now be able to have all the rights connected to existing marriage laws. This includes joint adoption.

As soon as the law has formally amended to reflect the result of this historic vote, same-sex couples will be able to wed. If all goes as plan this could be as early as the end of the year! The German legal code will now read: “Marriage is entered into for life by two people of different or the same sex.”

“After years of waiting and hoping, rainbow families in Germany will now receive equal recognition under the law,” said ILGA-Europe Executive Director Evelyne Paradis.